With about six weeks left in the summer tourism season, Casino Pier has yet to open its ride park. That’s a harsh reality for Mayor Bill Akers, who feels it is limiting visitor stays and hurting smaller businesses.

“We’ve done our job from a municipal standpoint,” he said. “We would hope the businesses would do their job so we can offer the total package for our guests.”

The unplanned delay is a result of outside contractors working at their own pace, necessary ride inspections, and rainy weather interfering with the rebuilding effort, Pier spokeswoman Maria Mastoris said. Some rides will run this summer as Pier officials intend to meet their promise, she said. But when isn’t exactly clear. Watch the video above to see Mastoris discuss the delay and hopeful re-opening.

Rides that pier officials hope to open already are positioned on the newly rebuilt first level of the pier. Some rides are assembled, but others still sit as metal stacks. Every ride must be built, tested and inspected, and some of them don’t have electricity yet, Mastoris said.

“It’s a rebuilding year. Hopefully next year, it will be back to normal or better than it was,” she said.

Mindy Bell, 38, of Malvern, Pa., was in Seaside Heights on Thursday with her family as part of their annual vacation there. The family, with three kids ranging in age from 7 to 11, loves that the borough’s attractions are all in close walking distance. But this year, they decided to drive north to Point Pleasant Beach so they could enjoy the rides at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk.

(Page 2 of 2)

She said she can’t fault Casino Pier for trying to reopen, even at this pace, after the scale of devastation from Sandy.

“I think they’re doing the best they can. You can’t really get upset about it,” she said. “I feel bad for them. It’s not like it’s something you can rush with the safety factors and the weather.”

John Camera, borough administrator for Seaside Heights, said Casino Pier helps draw a lot of people and raise a lot of revenue in the borough.

For one, he said, Casino Pier is a magnet to visitors, and from its waterpark to its rides, encourages people to stay longer, which can translate into people helping other businesses through hotel stays or dining.

The pier also represents hundreds of thousands in tax dollars paid to the borough, Camera said. Borough documents show the Pier pays more than $450,000 in taxes annually for its six properties.

Akers deemed Casino Pier an important business and good partner, but said the owners disappointed him this year.

He figured Casino Pier had the same goal as the town — push to reopen and welcome back the visitors. Now, he worries the temporary loss will have a lasting impact on the borough’s smaller businesses.

“The little business that counts on each and every visitor to come to Seaside Heights might not have the ability to withstand a season like this and might not be here next year,” the mayor said.

Pier officials initially said they would have some rides running for Memorial Day weekend. Then, there was a hope for Independence Day.

Mastoris said they didn’t want to open with just a few rides. They have heard people’s frustrations, but didn’t set out to hamper anyone’s vacations, she said. It has been hard to have interested customers and no actual opening date, she said.

“It’s definitely not what we thought would happen,” Mastoris said.

Casino Pier has welcomed crowds to its Breakwater Beach Waterpark, Casino arcade, mini golf, carousel and various games, and its officials hope for a grand reopening in the next two weeks, Mastoris said. Officials have 15 rides in mind for their opening, including Motorcycles, Surf Shack, the Sky Ride, Hot Tamales, and a new ride called Superstorm.

The pier is planning a full reopening, with a rebuilt upper level of rides, for next summer.